Pyrotechnics All Over

Happy Saturday Morning – ‘Ach du Lieber’, another week, another month. The Association for Psychological Science has looked at “The Fluidity of Time.” As they wrote, and as we all understand; “time flies when we’re having fun. It drags when we’re bored. Sometimes it’s on our side; other times it’s racing against us.”

This week my brother George had a very momentous (should I say somber?) ‘0’ ending birthday. I am certain he’s beginning to experience that for us geezers, time is not on our side. Luckily our coffee machine has switched its ‘Regular’ – ‘Bold’ setting with a ‘Slow’ – ‘Fast’ button (no, not really).

As I lift my fast-percolated, steaming, mug of java; Cheers.

School’s on – and as we hear that, especially in our high schools and college campuses, our kids’ actual learning programs are buried inside a load of Woke and ‘Progressive’ drivel. It’s surprising then that islands of common sense can still be found. One such campus is Tuskegee. Tuskegee University President Dr. Mark Brown, Air Force major general retired, stated; “Raise the bar, students will reach it.” Yes, raise the bar! This almost sounds like a bad afterthought from some forgotten generation.

Dr. Brown continued by explaining that “banning durags and bonnets in classrooms is part of a broader push for student success and job readiness.” Yes, at Tuskegee proper business attire in the classroom is a requirement.

If nothing else, those simple mandates by Dr. Brown change the whole tenor of and preparedness attributes to all their school endeavors. Yes, raise the bar! Even though today this almost seems like a bad afterthought.

Quotation – “My [physician assistant] reminds me that although I have a PhD in physics, women should remain a mystery.” ? Dr.Stephen Hawking, arguably the most recognized physicist of the last century and author of ‘A Brief History of Time’, passed of a motor neuron disease in 2018.

The Crave – Yesterday, Friday, was one of those days. On the surface it was absolutely quiet. Behind that facade there was a bit more of a hubbub. Back up to Wednesday evening, I was at Walgreen’s. Leaving the place I climbed back into our trusty Corolla beater – key in – and nothing. Thankfully Adrianne swung by with her car; it was in the mid-nineties, A/C on wheels was wonderful. Soon AAA was at the scene. Ruling that the battery was just fine, the verdict was to tow it to my garage. Thankfully, AAA handled it all. I gave the guy the name of my garage and he hid the car’s key somewhere while organizing the tow online. At 9:30, at home, I was texted that the car was placed safely at the garage.

Fast forward to Thursday. The original factory installed starter was deemed ‘kaput’. They’d start work later in the day.

Fast forward to Friday. The phone rang and I answered; “Dirk, were there other issues with the car? Me; “no, why?” Garage, “the cable connecting the shifter is busted!”

Huh?

So, yesterday late afternoon all was good again with our little Corolla beater. That plus a few other things had me suggest to Marcia that rather than whirlwind through the kitchen I’d drive down the street to the nearby White Castle and quickly settle both our craving. Marcia jumped on it and I wasn’t opposed either.

Dinner was a sack of Cheese sliders and for good measure a batch of Onion Rings. This was our first White Castle visit since early last Fall and it tasted pretty good!

Fun Fact: Did you know that White Castle is the first fast-food chain to be installed with robotic fryers? Early model was the ‘Flippi’ it’s since advanced to the ‘Flippi 2’. Eventually these will be in the 350 White Castle locations. Perfect fries without a break has advanced Miso Robotics maker of the Flippi 2 to gain a foothold in the fast-food business.

Pyrotechnics – I think I have it worked out where I can go to the Riverbank tomorrow evening. I am told if I go, I’ll be with about half a million of my new friends. Sunday evening is the town’s Labor Day Fireworks show started by WEBN Radio 50 years ago. Because of the nation’s 250th and this event 50th it’s going to be all out.

The Western Southern/WEBN (102.7 FM) Fireworks show by local specialists Rozzi Fireworks, the pyrotechnic displays will last 50 minutes rather than last year’s 30 – all accompanied to a themed musical soundtrack broadcast on WEBN. Former company President Art Rozzi is one of my brother’s best friends – I’ve always had a soft spot for their magical shows.

Here’s what we’re in for aside from the extra 20 minutes of the extravaganza. Past years they’ve shot from 3-barges mid river, this year it’s from 6-barges. The show will be 360 degrees around, along from the barges there will be land locations both in Kentucky and Ohio, plus also from two of the Ohio River bridges.

Additionally, they’ve got a person dedicated to the grand finale piece and we’re being touted that this finale will be the largest ever in the nation. Add a Drone show and it’ll be HUGE. I love this stuff!

PS, wanna hear the accompanying soundtrack wherever you are? Climb on the iHeart radio app and load 102.7 WEBN at 9:00 PM Eastern Time,

This week’s Interlude – This week’s ‘Interlude’ exposes a bit of a secret like of mine, Outlaw Country. The singer careened around somewhat until he was in his thirties when he lost a marriage and both parents due to drugs and alcohol.

Hint; it was the short lived phenom guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan, who first took him to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Now, still playing with his son as the lead guitarist he just released a new album.

Enjoy this small piece of one of his better-known songs. I am looking for you to successfully provide the singer’s name and the song title – no cheating!

If you want to see and listen to this wonderful number, copy the answer below and place it onto the YouTube or Spotify search bar. Remember, no cheating on the answer.

Enjoy!

And finally, the heat wave is breaking. Yesterday as it’s been the whole week, the Real-Feel temp climbed past the 100-degree mark. Today it’s dropping down into the upper eighties. Just thought you’d want to know.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Any astronomers in the house? For years now the Hubble telescope has functioned and observed the heavens above. It’d even been repaired in space. A few years ago the James Webb telescope was sent a million miles out and since then been busy at work exploring the far outer reaches of the universe. A week ago, a 27engine Space X Falcon Heavy launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

Between those telescopes and various satellites we keep researching our nearby planets. Building on earlier findings at Saturn’s north pole we’ve now discovered an unusual wave pattern in clouds above Saturn’s poles.

From AP Science: “Scientists have discovered an enormous ‘XX’-sided wave pattern in the icy ammonia clouds over Saturn’s south pole.” These are wave pattern possibilities, which one is correct

1. 17 sided north pole and 8 sided south pole
2. 12 sided north pole and 10 sided south pole
3. 3 sided north pole and 7 sided south pole
4. 6 sided north pole and 10 sided south pole
5. 4 sided north pole and 4 sided south pole

Last week Bonus Points answer – # 6
Answer, this week’s Interlude: Ray Wylie Hubbard; “Mother Blues”